Non-conductive coupling



Nov. 3, 1959 A. M. cARuso NON-CONDUCTIVE COUPLING FiledrOct. 5, 1956 INVENTOR %/vma/v (41?050 ATTORNEY U ted Stat Patent 9 This invention relates generally to a connector for two aligned portions ofa reciprocating actuating member, and wherein the two member portions are located in two compartments separated by a wall or partition through which said connector is to operate, and wherein these compartments are kept at materially different temperatures, and wherein said connector is made from nonconductive material and is designed to prevent heat exchange between the two compartments while the actuating member is either being operated or is at rest, the non-conductivity of said connector pertains both to nonconductivity of heat and of electric current.

One of the prime objects of this invention therefore is the combination with a partitioning wall separating two compartments, of a connector for reciprocating elements and wherein said connector is operative through that wall or partition, and wherein said connector is so constructed that it thermally separates the two compartments.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a non-conductive connector for two portions of an actuating member, and wherein the connector is operative in an opening made through a wall which separates two compartments, and wherein combination means for guiding the connector and for sealing both ends of the wall opening are provided, whereby the thermal separation of the two compartments divided by said wall is effected.

The foregoing and still further important objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description in conjunc-' tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 is a side elevation of the device, according to the present invention, disposed in an opening of a wall shown in section, said wall separating two adjacent compartrnents;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view through Fig. 1 taken approximately along lines 22 of that figure; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device in its presently preferred form. 3

In Fig. 1 there are shown two compartments and 11 separated by a wall 12. Be it assumed that compartment 10 is heated and compartment 11 is cold, and that the heated compartment is to be kept at a desired temperature. In order to prevent heat exchange between the two compartments, it is essential that any leakage through wall .12 be either eliminated or substantially minimized.

There are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 two portions 13 and 14 of an actuating member 15 which is intended to both reciprocate axially as well as being rendered movable angularly by a knob 16. An actuating member ofthe type indicated is intended to be employed invending devices for dispensing both hot and cold commodities. Obviously the specific structure of member 15 is unimportant as to its relation to the present disclosure, except to indicate its operation by way of a connector pass ing through an opening in wall 12. The connector is generally indicated by numeral 17 and comprises a substantially cylindrical tubular member 18 provided with an annular flange 19 extending from its body and being disposed 'a substantial distance from the right-hand end thereof. Adjacent to both ends of the connector are provided annular grooves 20 and 21 for the reception of locking rings 22 shown in Fig. 2.

" Aligned with grooves 20 and 21 is a pair of diametrical ly opposite passages 23 and 24 for receiving drift or locking pins 25, which engage reduced ends 26 of actuating member portions 13 and 14, thusholding .the latter against displacement from the connector body. In wall 12 there is provided an opening 27 through which connector 17 is adapted to operate. At both ends of wall 112 will be seen combination means 28 for sealing the ends of opening 27 and for providing guides for the connector. Each of the combination'sealing andyg'uide 1116311500111? prise a fiat, relatively thin annulus 29, preferably made I from firm material, the outer diameter of which is sufficiently large to facilitate attachment of the annulus to the face of the wall. The interior opening of the annulus is of a sufliciently large diameter so that it easily clears the body of connector 17.

To both faces of annulus. 29 are concentrically secured, preferably adhesively, two like annuli 30 and 31 of a smaller diameter than central annulus 29. Their inner diameters correspond substantially to'the outer diameter of connector body 18 so that the latter is readily guided within these annuli. While fiat central annulus 29 is preferably made of a stiff, thin material which may be either metal, fibre or any other suitable substance, annuli 30 and 31 are preferably made from heat and electrically insulating material such as rubber, plastic or any other suitable substance. Similarly, the body of connector 17 is preferably made from plastic which is non-conductive both thermally as well as electrically.

In associating the two portions 13 and 14 of actuating member 15 with connector 17, care is to be taken that the inward stroke of member 15 is: fairly accurately defined. Flange 19. of the connector is adapted to abut with one of the outer srnall annuli 31, as clearly seen in Fig. 2, whereby the inward stroke of member 15 is. limited. In order to reduce the impact of flange 19 against annulus 31, the latter is preferably made of resilient material such as sponge rubber or sponge plastic.

The connection of annuli 30 and 31 with central annulus 29 can be effected in any suitable manner, for instance, by cementing what may be termed the interior faces of annuli-30 and 31 to the two outer faces of central annulus 29. It is also preferred that the peripheral area of each central annulus 29 is adhesively or otherwise fixedly attached to the portions of the wall faces adjacent to the ends of opening 27 so that the opening is completely sealed.

Connector 17 has attained prominence as an essential feature in vending machines dispensing both hot and cold commodities, and wherein compartments in which the hot commodities are kept must be maintained at a certain required temperature. Actuating member portion 13 operates in heated compartment 10 for holding hot commodities, whereas member portion 14 is disposed in compartment 11, housing, for instance, a coin-controlled mechanism, not shown. Obviously it is important to assure maintenance of the required temperature in compartment 10, while the temperature in compartment 11 can be kept at any level at which such mechanism will operate. Thus the connector of the present invention becomes an essential device for thermally separating compartments 10 and 11.

While in the foregoing a specific embodiment of the connector as shown in the drawing. is explained, its struc- 'A combination connector and spacer for twoaligned portions of an actuating member, said connector and said actuating member being adapted'for :both axial reciprocating and angular movements, said connector being operative in an aperture made through a Wall which thermally separates two compartments intended to be maintained at different termperatures, a pair of combination guide and packing means for the connector, one at each face of the wall, said connector comprising a non-conductive tubular body provided near itsfends'with means for fixedly but removably attaching and spacing said aligned portions of the actuating member, and an annular flange extending from the body in close proximity to one of said v 4 attaching means, said flange being adapted to contact one of the combination guide and packing means and to serve as stop for the movement of the connector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,032,878 Camatte July 16, 1912 1,251,836 Stufiiebeam Jan. 1, 1918 1,509,971 Mershon Sept. 30, 1924 1,721,454 Kleinert July 16, 1929 1,913,589 Foulds June 13, 1933 2,478,953 Tint Aug. 16, 1949 2,619,215 Guss Nov. 25, 1952 2,788,711 Gillum Apr. 16, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 550,795 Great Britain Jan. 25, 1943 

